As we witness multiple industries benefit from the application of drones, one vertical that has really boomed is real estate photography. With realtors looking for various ways to capture acres of land, drones took the forefront in providing ease and accessibility, and various uses including:

Capturing aerial views of property and land

Scoping out neighborhood and surrounding area for amenities

Property maps and surveys

Outer terrain and geographic developments

This complete guide will outline the necessities and overall how-to’s to become familiar with aerial real estate photography and uses drones for commercial purposes.

Using Drones Makes Aerial Imaging Affordable

Prior to drones, aerial photos for real estate was captured using either a plane or helicopter, which would cost thousands of dollars. In addition, time and space would be limited with such large aircrafts, making it even harder to capture specific images. With newer models of drones costing a few hundred to a thousand dollars, the investment more than quadruples money and time saved. With the ability to capture both photos and videos in one flight, it takes the need of an operator out of the question. Moreover, if you choose to outsource your photos, it would still end up being cheaper than using a plane or chopper.

Rules and Regulations to Follow

With drone security becoming a pressing issue with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), rules and regulations have not been taken lightly. Hobbyists must now register themselves as operators even though they are not flying for commercial purposes. In the case of real estate photography, in addition to registering as an operator, he or she must also have a Remote Pilot Airman Certificate, be 16 years or older, and pass TSA vetting. If you wish you fly outside of certain restrictions like under 400 feet, you can also file petitions to be granted access. For more information on drone rules and regulations, check out the official FAA website.

Drone Decorum

As it has been an uphill battle to just initiate drones into the commercial space, it would behoove all real estate companies to follow proper drone etiquette when flying above homes. Keep in mind these following guidelines when operating a drone:

Confirm with homeowners before launching a drone

Never fly above private property without asking for permission

Avoid flying over people and crowds

Thoroughly read the user manual before operating the drone

Avoid animals

Drones are still highly regarded as a privacy and safety concern, so by abiding to all the rules/regulations and following proper drone etiquette, you are more likely to stay out of trouble with the law.

Drones Are The Future

As we progress with technological advances, drones are becoming more and more prominent in every day use. Fields like agriculture, law enforcement, and telecommunications are all adapting the use of drones to their advantage. Companies like Amazon are now following through with drone delivery technology and startups across the country are using drones as a flagship for their business. With applications using drones being created everyday, we do not expect drones to fizzle out in the future.

Unsure on what drone to choose for aerial photography? Lumoid makes it easy for you to decide with drones ranging in all sorts of sizes. Try out our Phantom or Inspire series to capture the best shots for real estate aerial photos!